Responsibility: Australian, state and territory governments
Joint Response: Accept in principle
Status: Further work required
What has been achieved to date
All governments remain committed to working together to progress this recommendation.
In August 2024, the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce (the Taskforce) recommended a risk proportionate registration model for NDIS providers, largely aligning with recommendations in the NDIS Review. The Australian government will carefully consider each of the recommendations of the Taskforce advice in consultation with the disability community.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) is undertaking a review of Commissioner-made NDIS Rules and NDIS Practice Standards, which have not undergone a comprehensive review since their introduction. The NDIS Practice Standard review will consider quality indicators, and how they are measured and communicated to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports. This review will be informed by the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission.
The NDIS Commission is implementing recommendations arising from a comprehensive review of its registration function and is working closely with the Joint Accreditation System of Australian and New Zealand (JASANZ) to deliver quality improvements to the approved quality audit scheme.
The NDIS Commission creates auditor specific newsletters and meets regularly with approved quality auditors which enables systemic issues in respect of the NDIS market to be raised. Topics include insights from the NDIS Commission’s own motion inquiries, quality assurance activities, regulatory reform, market trends and practice alerts.
What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report
a) To enhance the registration process, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) should:
- develop and implement a framework for sharing relevant information with quality auditors
- conduct a comprehensive review of the provider registration process focused on:
- simplifying the process for smaller providers seeking to renew their registration
- improving the NDIS Commission’s operating system (COS) portal and online application forms used to submit registration applications
- removing any duplication of requirements for cohorts of practitioners or organisations working within multiple schemes and for recognising other forms of accreditation
- identifying areas where there are workforce shortages or ‘thin provider markets’, and encouraging the use of easier and more cost-effective certification audit processes in these areas
- assessing whether the number of approved quality auditors accredited for remote auditing and assessment should be increased
- collect and publish de-identified data about quality audit outcomes to inform best practice
- alert quality auditors to known systemic issues across the NDIS provider market.
b) The Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme should, in consultation with states and territories, amend the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Protection and Disclosure of Information—Commissioner) Rules 2018 (Cth) to clarify the NDIS Commission is able to share relevant information with quality auditors.
Joint Government response July 2024
The Australian Government and state and territory governments support reform to the registration and audit process to enable a strengthened but risk-proportionate approach to regulating and monitoring the quality and safety of services delivered by NDIS providers.
On 12 February 2024, the Minister for the NDIS announced the establishment of the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce, to provide advice on the design and implementation of a new graduated risk-proportionate regulatory model for all providers and workers in consultation with the disability community. The Taskforce will report in 2024.
All governments also support appropriate changes to clarify that the NDIS Commission is able to share relevant information with quality auditors and will consider appropriate rule or guideline changes following receipt of the Taskforce’s report.
Approaches to implementing this recommendation are being considered alongside Recommendation 17 of the NDIS Review to develop and deliver a risk-proportionate model for the visibility and regulation of all providers and workers, and to strengthen the regulatory response to long-standing and emerging quality and safeguards issues.
More recommendations
View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.